Boston Tea Party

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The Boston Tea Party was a pivotal event in American history, occurring on December 16, 1773. It was a protest against British taxation policies, specifically the Tea Act of 1773, which allowed the East India Company to sell tea in the colonies without paying local taxes. The Sons of Liberty, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests of tea into the water. This act of defiance was a culmination of growing tensions between the British government and the American colonies over taxation without representation. The event had significant repercussions, leading to the British response known as the Coercive Acts, or Intolerable Acts, which further restricted colonial rights. This escalation contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolution, as colonies united against British rule. The Boston Tea Party became an iconic symbol of resistance against oppressive governance, shaping the course of American history and inspiring future movements. It remains a critical moment in the lead-up to the American Revolutionary War, marking a decisive shift towards independence from British rule.